A foster carer has made special Christmas care packages for kids taken from their homes this December

Ellie De Wolf, from Hambledon, made 40 packages which will be distributed to youngsters across Hampshire by social workers.

She hopes that while in a strange place, having a package with items such as pyjamas in to call their own, the children will have some comfort and feel more at ease.

Ellie, 53, is a foster mum to five children under the age of 18 and also has five grown-up children of her own. 

She said: '˜It can be bad enough being taken into care, but at Christmas it can be even more daunting especially if kids are placed into emergency care '“ often they will be removed without notice and taken in the clothes they're standing in.

'˜Kids are going to remember the Christmas they were taken into care, so I want to give them something good they will remember about that time.

'˜My foster children have helped me to make the packages up, they are gender specific and come in different age groups, from age five up to teenagers.

'˜All the packages are in Christmas bags and we've put items in like pyjamas, underwear sweets, chocolate, a notebook and pen, toiletries and a Christmas tree bauble, so the kids can hang it on the tree of the family they're staying with.

'˜My kids have also written Christmas cards and notes to the children which say things like 'you're going to be fine'.

Ellie has funded the packages herself and through donations from family members, friends and Hambledon Primary School.

She has worked as a foster carer for Hampshire County Council for 10 years and six years ago, gave up her job as manager for LA Fitness in Southampton, to care for kids full time.

All of the children she cares for are long-term placements, but she also provides emergency and respite care and altogether, has cared for 12 children.

'˜I do find it really rewarding,' Ellie added.

'˜I love children and they've always been a huge part of my life because I used to run a private day nursery, and when my own children grew up and left home, I felt emptiness.

'˜So I thought while I'm still able I want to care for those who need it, I want to make lives better. 

'˜I still think of myself as a young foster mum!

'˜I've dropped the packages off to the council's social worker office in Havant, but if there's anyone out there who knows a child in foster care that might need a Christmas care package I can look into making more.'

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